Globe with map detail display

Abstract

A spherical world globe ( 4 ) with geographic features imprinted on its surface rotates on an axis ( 2 ) through the poles. The sphere is not large enough to carry legible details of all areas. Greater details are stored in a memory ( 12 ′) such as a compact disc. An indicator ( 8 ) on the sphere is positionable north and south or the sphere is positionable relative to a fixed indicator to position the indicator along a north/south meridian. A sensor ( 11 ′) senses the north/south position of the indicator and sends a signal to a control circuit ( 19 ) connected to the memory. Another sensor ( 10 ′) connected to the rotation of the sphere sends an east/west signal to the control circuit. Using the two signals, the circuit finds the area corresponding to the area selected on the sphere in the memory and displays it on a display in greater detail than is visible on the sphere.

1 . A globe assembly for displaying features of the world comprising: 
 a) a base;    b) an axle element supported by the base;    c) a spherical globe representing the earth supported on the axle element for rotation about an axis through the north and south poles of the earth representation;    d) an indicator positionable at the globe surface for relative positioning in a north/south direction on the globe so that, in combination with rotation on the axis, a particular location area on the globe may be selected to be at the indicator;    e) a first sensor mounted so as to provide a longitude signal representative of the rotary position of the globe relative to the base;    f) a second sensor mounted so as to provide a latitude signal representative of the north/south position of the indicator relative to the globe;    g) a memory storing more detailed map information than is displayed on the sphere; and    h) control means operatively connecting the memory to the signals from the first and second sensors, for selecting from the memory detailed map information representing the area at the indicator.    
   
   
       2 . The globe assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising visual display means for displaying the detailed map information selected from the memory.  
   
   
       3 . The globe assembly according to  claim 1  in which the first and second sensors are contained within the globe.  
   
   
       4 . The globe assembly according to  claim 3  further comprising an electronic clock and means for displaying time and the detailed map information selected from the memory at the selected area.  
   
   
       5 . The globe assembly according to  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a) a member having a first location attached to one end of the axle element and a second location attached to another end of the axle element;    b) at least one support element extending from the base    c) at least one pivot on the support element pivotally connected to the member so as to enable the axis of the globe to rotate about the center of the globe; and    d) the indicator being connected to the base so that it remains at the globe surface as the globe axis is pivoted, thereby indicating latitude along a meridian.    
   
   
       6 . The globe assembly according to claim tin which the indicator is pivotally supported on the base so as to remain at the globe surface and move through an arc concentric with the globe thereby indicating latitude along a meridian as it moves.  
   
   
       7 . A method of simultaneously displaying a spherical geographic representation of the world along with a more detailed display of an area selected from the spherical geographic representation, the method comprising: 
 a) providing: 
 i) a base;  
 ii) an axle element supported by the base;  
 iii) a spherical globe representative of the earth supported on the axle element for rotation about an axis through north and south poles of the earth representation;  
 iv) an indicator positionable at the globe surface for relative positioning in a north/south direction on the globe so that, in combination with rotation on the axis, a particular location area on the globe may be indicated;  
 v) a first sensor mounted so as to provide a longitude signal representative of the rotary position of the globe relative to the base;  
 vi) a second sensor mounted so as to provide a latitude signal representative of the north/south position of the indicator relative to the globe; and  
 vii) control means for operatively connecting the signals from the first and second sensors to a memory storing more detailed map information than is imprinted on the sphere, for selecting from the memory more detailed map information representing the area indicated by the indicator;  
   b) adjusting the relative position of the indicator and rotating the sphere to select a particular area of interest on the globe;    c) using the control means to select detailed map information representing the area indicated by the indicator from the memory; and    d) displaying on a visual display the detailed map information representing the area indicated by the indicator.    
   
   
       8 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising: 
 providing,    a) a member having a first location attached to one end of the axle element, and a second location attached to another end of the axle element;    b) at least one support element extending upward from the base    c) at least one pivot on the support element pivotally connected to the member so as to enable the axis of the globe to rotate about the center of the globe; and    d) the indicator being connected to the base so that it remains at the globe surface as the globe is pivoted, thereby indicating latitude along a meridian.    
   
   
       9 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising: providing; 
 the indicator being pivotally supported on the base so as to remain at the globe surface and move through an arc concentric with the globe thereby indicating latitude along a meridian as the indicator moves.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 7  further comprising providing the first and second sensors and a light emitting element functioning as the indicator contained within the spherical globe.  
   
   
       11 . A globe assembly for displaying detailed features of the world comprising: 
 a) a base;    b) an axle element supported by the base;    c) a spherical globe representing the earth supported on the axle element for rotation about an axis through the north and south poles of the earth representation;    d) an indicator positionable at the globe surface for relative positioning in a north/south direction on the globe so that, in combination with rotation on the axis, a particular location area on the globe may be selected to be at the indicator;    e) a first sensor mounted so as to provide a longitude signal representative of the rotary position of the globe relative to the base;    f) a second sensor mounted so as to provide a latitude signal representative of the north/south position of the indicator relative to the globe; and    g) means for operatively connecting a memory to the signals from the first and second sensors, for selecting from a memory detailed map information representing the area at the indicator for graphic presentation on a display.    
   
   
       12 . The globe assembly according to  claim 11  in which the first and second sensors are contained within the spherical globe.  
   
   
       13 . The globe assembly according to  claim 11  in which the first and second sensors and a light emitting element functioning as the indicator are contained within the spherical globe.